Method of and machine for combining box parts



Nov. 13, 1934. I M, wlLLETT 1,980,871

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COMBINING BOX PARTS Original Filed June 25. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 800 Y Mac/1w:

Nov. 13, 1934. M. WlLLETT METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COMBINING BOX PARTS s Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June; 25, 1926 Nov. 13, 1934. M LL T 1,980,871

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COMBINING BOX PARTS original Filed June 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR COM- BINING BOX PARTS Moses Willett, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Federal Tin Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation Application June 25, 1926, Serial No. 118,608 Renewed July 15, 1933 8 Claims; (Cl. 29-11) This invention has to do with hinging together the separately made body and .cover parts of metal receptacles where the two parts are provided with complementary hinge forming elements, those of one member, usually the cover member, being of hook form which in the hinging operation are clenched or folded about the pintle element of the hinge. An outstanding feature of the invention is the avoidance of as- 10 sembly of the body and cover as a step or operation preliminary to clenching or what may for convenience be termed pre-assembly, the clenching operation being begun upon the coming of the body and cover together so that clenching begins and proceeds as the two parts come together. As a result of this, the speed of output is increased, because time required for pro-assembly is saved and the mechanical devices required for the machine are simplified in number which makes for reduction of cost of manufacture, diminution of danger of parts getting out of order, and speed of production. Another outstanding feature of the invention is the performance of the closing operation of the cover during the clenching operation rather than as a separate and successive operation after hinging of the cover and body, which also 'makes for speed of production and simplification of mechanical elements of the machine even though the closing operation is not wholly performed at such time, but a part of the closing operation may afterwards be performed. The invention it will be seen is, therefore, fundamentally different from a heretofore patented machine, which requires not only pro-assembly before the hinging operation, but two successive operations for assembly at two different stations in the machine, and also from another heretofore patented machine which while it avoids pre-assembly as the 40 result of two successive operations at two stations, nevertheless requires assembly and hinging as separate operations. And it is further notably differentiated from the prior art mentioned in regard to the matter of cover closing,

because in such prior art closing of the cover does not begin until after the completion of the hinging together of the body and cover parts of the receptacle. Besides those differences from the prior art just mentioned, this invention has features or characteristics of construction and operation that otherwise differ from and are advantageous over the prior art, all of which will be evident to those skilled in the art, especially in the light of the following specification. The

=35 invention consists in whatever is described by or is included within the terms or scope of the appended claims.

Giving a brief description .of the machine shown in the drawings, as one illustration or exemplification of the invention, and the operations which take place, that machine comprises a horizontally extending horn or mandrel consisting of a bar which in cross section corresponds to the interior of the more or less oval shaped body of tin of the receptacle, to which such bodies one after another as formed by the body forming machine are delivered, and along which they are fed to a position at the free end of the horn, at which points covers are delivered or to which they are brought in succes sion for the hinging together of a body blank and a cover blank. The body blank is provided, as is common, at the top edge of what may beconsidered the back wall of the body which is one of the long more or less flattened walls of the body with a pintle and the cover blank has projecting from one of the flanges thereof more or less hook shape-d lugs or tongues which provide the pintle encircling members in the finished product to make the hinge connection but so which are only partially bent or curved with their free ends projecting tangentially from the curved portionsat an angle greater than a right angle with the cover'flange, so that each hook or lug when the cover blank is brought to the body blank for the hinging operation will readily pass behind the pintle and as it passes behind the pintle will encounter a clenching surface on the mandrel so that as the movement of the cover continues after the passage the pintle and into contact with such clenching surface, the clenching operation will be performed, this operation being thus performed while the cover is still in motion and is completed when the cover blank motion stops. Concurrently with the clenching operation due to the continued onward movement of the cover blank, the cover blank is swung on the hinge connection thus being formed for the closing movement of the cover upon the body, this closing movement being partially performed at such time, and the completion of the closing movement being later performed as a separate, but nevertheless, short operation.

In the annexed drawings:

. .Fig. l is a perspective view of a body blank and a cover blank upon which the machine shown in the drawings is designed to operate, these blanks being shown'separated.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

of the lugs behind 90 Fig. 3 is a detail view of the cover blank carrier feed control;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a similar view with parts in section and on a. larger scale of the cover carrier;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cover carrier;

Fig. 7 is a plan View on a larger scale showing in dotted and full lines the position of the parts, and the successive stages of the hinging and cover closing operations.

The body and cover blanks for hinging by the machine shown in the drawings, are shown in Fig. 1, from which it will be seen that the body, B, is of flattened tubular shape in cross section, or roughly speaking, oval, and at the back a pintle, P, is provided, that consists of a length of straight wire about which spaced lugs or "cars are curled, there being exposed portions of the V pintle between and on opposite sides of the lugs for the hinging elements of the cover. The cover blank, C, has three spaced apart lugs or ears, E, each of tapering form and projecting from the back flange of the cover blank, each being partial- 1y tumed'or curved where it adjoins the flange, and each having the tapering free end projection at an angle greater than a right angle to the flange. I 1

The hinging machine has a horizontally projecting mandrel or horn, 10, of a cross section corresponding with the cross section of the body blanks, andof dimensions sufficiently less than the interior of the body blanks to allow the latter to slide readily'lengthwise of the horn so that one at a time they will reach. the free end of the born, and will be stopped there sufiiciently long for the-hinghig and cover closing operations. Upon one of its longer and vertical sides, within a short distance of its extremity, the horn has a concave groove, 11, that extends vertically, and

, the clenching anvil groove is formed ina sep-.

has a length somewhat longer than the distance between the outermost hinge lugs on the cover blank, and opposite which groove the pintle, P, of the body blank is situated for the hinging operation, so that the groove lies inrear of the pintle at such time, and is concentric with the pintle with a space between the pintle andg'roove, The concave surface which forms the bottom ofthe groove is first struck by the tips of the cover blank hinge lugs, as the cover blank, held by a carrier hereinafter described, is moved towards the horn, and as the movement is continued the cover blank lugs are'curled or bent in a circular direction around the pintle. As a matter of convenient' designation, the lug bending or curling groove will be termed herein the clenching anvil for the horn being stationary or immovable, answers or corresponds to an anvil. Preferably,

arate metal-plate, 12, set in a recess in a side of the hornand is "a metal of'the necessary hardness to perform its function.

The cover blank carrier,13, is a horizontally reciprocating 'block that extends and is slidable in a path that is inclined; or oblique, to the horn, 10, so that the cover blank, C, supported lengthwise in a vertical position with its flanges towards the horn end will move in a path across the near corner of the horn with the side of the cover next to the end of the horn forming an acute angle with the end or face of the horn, and so that the hinge lugs or cars of the cover blank will pass between the pintle of the blank at the end of the horn and the clenching anvil groove. The end of the block forming the oarrierwhich is towards the horn has a vertical groove, 14, to

accommodate the rounded portions of the cover blank hinge lugs, and at top and bottom there are curved jaws or fingers, 15, which respectively grip the curved top and bottom of the cover blank with a yielding pressure which while suifficient to hold the cover from accidental displacement during the movement of the cover with the carrier to the horn to perform the hinging operation, will permit the release of the fingers on the return movement of the carrier after the hinging of the cover blank to the body blank has been completed. Each of said fingers, 15, is at one extremity of a bar that has a horizontal pivot, 16, between its ends to permit the vertical rocking of the finger, and which at its other end is engaged by a coil spring, 1'7, that tends to move the finger into holding engagement with the curved end of the cover blank. Extending forwardly from the grooved end portion of the carrier block, 13, and at an incline to the path of movement of the carrier, the carrier'has an inclined or beveled face, 18, against which lies what as the cover blank during the hinging process is free to turn towards the adjacent top end of the body blank, it will be seen that by the time the hinging operation is completed, the cover will be moved or swung upon its hinge connection in a closing movement, so that by the time the cover carrier completes the hinging operation and comes to rest, the cover will be partially closed.

To complete the closing of the cover-upon the body blank before the latter is discharged, or ejected, from the horn, a horizontally sliding block, .20, is mounted on the carrier block, 13, which block, 20, has a forward end with an'inclined surface, 21, corresponding with the inclination of the bevel of the adjacent portions of the carrier, 13, and outward movement of said block, 20, relative to the carrier, 13, begins when the carrierstops at the completion of the hing ingoperatiorr'so that the contact'of the forward end of the block, 20, with the cover-swings the latter and completes the closing operation. Un til the carrier, '13, stops its movement on the completionof the hinging operation, the cover en gaging block, 20, simply moves with the carrier without having any independent motion of its own. The cover ca'rrier,"13, is mounted 'in'a horizontally movable slide block or housing, 210, to which reciprocating motion is imparted in any suitable way, and it-is also slidably mounted in said housing and is yieldingly connected therewith to allow independent movement of the housing, as by means of a lug, 22, that projects downward from the top of the housing into a slot, 23, in the top of the carrier block and between which lug and the front end of said slot is a'coil spring, 24, that causes the carrier to move with the housing until the carrier is-stopped on the completion of the clenching operation, andb'etween said lug and the rear end of said slot is a 'coil spring, 25, which causes the carrier to move rearward when the housing is retracted after a hinging and cover closing operation. Upon the stoppage of movement of the carrier, 13, in a clenching or hinging operation, the movement of the housing continues as the spring, 24, will yield and allow that, and the housing continuing its movement will engage the rear end of a horizontal rod, 26, which is secured to the slidable cover swinging block, 20, and impart the onward movement to that block which is necessary to complete the closing of the cover. A spring, 27, is provided to retract the cover closing block when the housing moves rearward and away from said rod.

The cover blanks are supplied through a vertical chute, 28, through'which the cover blanks descend lengthwise by gravity which chute at the bottom and at the rear side of the carrier, 13, has an outlet, or discharge opening, 29, which when the carrier is fully retracted aligns with the space between the cover blank gripping fingers. At the bottom of said chute, and in line with the discharge opening, is a cover blank ejecting member in the form of a lever, 30, which has a cover engaging finger, 31, which by the swinging of the lever on a vertical pivot, 32, moves the lowermost cover blank in the chute between the fingers which grip the top and bottom thereof, which fingers yield to allow the entrance betweenthem of the cover blank. i

The cover feeding movement of the lever, 30, is produced by a beveled nose or cam, 33, on" the rear end of the housing, 21, which just before 'the rear stroke of the housing is completed, engages a roller, 34, carried by the lever. The opposite movement or the lever is produced by a coil spring 35. To accurately stop the housing and the cover blank carrier in position to receive a cover blank from the bottom of the chute an adjustablestop screw, 36, is provided.

It is important that no cover should be delivered for the hinging operation when there is no body blank present on the horn at the hinging station, and this is achieved by preventing the supply of a cover blank in front of the ejecting finger, 31, by the operation of a stop rod, 37, which is adapted to intercept the downward passage or" a cover blank by a body blank moving along the horn to release the cover blank from stoppage by said rod. The rod, 3'7, extends horizontally through an opening in the rear wall of the cover blank chute, and its end within the chute is movable to and from a position where it will be in the path of the cover blank flange at the top. Said stop rod, 37, by suitable connections is yieldingly held by a spring in cover blank engaging position, and is moved from such position by connection with a finger, 38, which extends at its free end in the path of on-coming body blanks at the top of the horn, the horn being provided with a longitudinal groove, 39, in its top to assure the presence of the lower end of the finger, 38, in the path of an on-coming body blank. The oncoming blank pressing against the finger, 38, will lift it and such lifting of the finger will move the stop rod, 37, from the path of the cover blanks passing downward through the chute. When no body blank is present the rod, 37, is moved by its spring so that its end projects in the path of cover blanks passing downward through the chute, the finger, 38, of course, then having its lower free end in the groove, 39.

It is desirable to support the free end of the horn under the pressure to which it is subjected during a hinging operation, and for that purpose, a supporting bar, 40, is provided that is movable to and from the side of the horn opposite the side where the clenching anvil groove is provided, said supporting bar, 40, being slidable horizontally and cam actuated to time its movements to and from the horn. It must be withdrawn from the horn, of course, to allow the on-feed of a body blank, and to permit the ejection of the hinged body and cover members from the horn. Said bar, 40, is carried by a block, 41, slidable in-ways in the topside of a supporting plate or table, 42, which also supports other members of the machine, and the movements of said block, 41, are utilized to actuate in proper time a horizontal finger, 43, which is adapted to engage the rear end of the body blank at the free end of the mandrel and impart a short feeding movement required to place itaccurately in the position on the mandrel or horn for the hinging operation. Said finger, 43, has movement towards and from the horn to place it into and out of the path of on-coming bodies and a swinging movement to engage it withthe rear end of the foremost body and shift such body longitudinally onward. The side of the horn has a longitudinally extending slot, 46, into which the free end of the finger enters to place it in rear of the body blank in readiness to engage and move it when it swings forward. The devices shown for imparting the described movements to the feed or locating finger, 43, are two bolts, 47 and 48, carried by the slide block, 41, that, respectively, engage a cam slot, 49, and a straight slot, 50, in the finger shank, and a downwardly projecting lug, 51, on the finger that engages the stationary stop in the form of a hook, 52. The finger being stopped in its movement toward the horn, the onward movement of block, 41, continues, and by the action of the cam slot the swing of the finger to feed the body blank is produced before the horn-supporting bar, 40, contacts with said body.

The feed of the body blanks along the mandrel or horn in the machine shown, is effected by reciprocating spring dog-carrying bars, 53, situated beneath the mandrel.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for hinging body and cover parts having complementary hinging members one of which is a lug, and the other a pintle, means for supplying the cover parts comprising a vertical chute, a member reciprocating with reference to the discharge opening of the chute, spring actuated opposing cover engaging fingers carried by said member, and means to expel a cover from the chute into the grip of said fingers when opposite the discharge opening of the chute.

2. In a machine for hinging body and cover parts having complementary hinging members one of which is a lug, and the other a pintle, means for supplying the cover parts comprising a vertical chute, a member reciprocating with reference to the discharge opening of the chute, spring actuated opposing cover engaging fingers carried by said member, with free ends reaching forward and situated at top and bottom of said member, and means to expel a cover from the chute into the grip of said fingers when opposite the discharge opening of the chute.

3. In a machine for hinging body and cover parts having complementary hinging members one of which is a lug, and the other a pintle, the combination of a hinging station, a body guide and support consisting of a horn of a size and shape in cross section to permit the body to surround and pass endwise along the same and reaching and terminating at such station, and having in its side adjacent its extremity an anvil surface adapted to curl the lug hinge member about the pintle, a chute for cover parts situated at the side of the horn having the anvil and reciprocating means receiving cover parts from said chute and presenting them at the hinging station and subjecting the lug hinging member to the action of said anvil.

4. In a machine for hinging body and cover parts having complementary hinging members one of which is a lug, and the other a pintle, the combination of a hinging station, a body guide and support consisting of a horn of a size and shape in cross section to permit the body to surround and pass endwise along the same and reaching to and terminating at such station, and having in its side adjacent its extremity an anvil surface adapted to curl the lug hinge member about the pintle, a chute for cover parts situated at the side of the horn having the anvil, reciprocating means receiving cover parts from said chute and presenting them at the hinging station and subjecting the lug hinging member to the action of said anvil, and a brace at the side of the horn opposite the anvil to support the same against thrust. v

5. A machine as in claim 1 having a body guide and support of a size and shape in cross section to permit the body to surround and pass endwise along .the same, a hinging station to which said guide and support lead and. means to cause the interengaging of the complementary hinging members of body and cover at such hinging station.

6. In a machinefor hinging body and cover parts, having complementary hingingmembers, one of which is a lug and the other a pintle, the combination of a hinging station, means to present said parts at such station comprising means for moving one of such parts and a stationary body guide and support of a size and shape in cross-section to permit the body to surround and pass endwise along the same, said support having an immovable anvil and a member movable to and fro with reference to said immovable anvil that cooperates therewith to efiect the interengaging of the complementary hinging members of body and cover.

I '7. In a machine for hinging body and cover parts having complementary hinging members, one of which is a lug and the other a pintle, the combination of a hinging station, means to present said parts at such station comprising means for moving one of such parts, a body support that is immovable with an external surface adapted to contact with the body interior, such support having an anvil on such surface, said anvil cooperating with the movable part to engage the hinge forming lug that forms one of the hinging members of body and cover parts.

8. In a machine for hinging body and cover parts having complementary hinging members one of which is alug, and the other a pintle, the combination of a hinging station, a body guide and support extending to such station and terminating thereat, and having adjacent its extremity an anvil surface to curl the lug hinge to permit the body to surround and pass endwise along the same, by which said anvil surface is carried.

MOSES WILLETT.

member about the pintle, means to move the part having the lug hinge member to bring such mem- I ber in a shaping contact with said anvil, whereby 

